Apparatus for varying spinning characteristics of a rotary chamber spinning machine



969 H. LANDWEHRKAMP ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR VARYING SPINNING CHARACTERISTICS OF A ROTARY CHAMBER SPINNING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1967 MN RN Dec. 2. 1969 H. LANDWEHRKAMP ETAL 3,481,128

APPARATUS FOR VARYING SPINNING CHARACTERISTICS OF A ROTARY CHAMBER SPINNING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 16, 1967 Fig. 4-

Fig.

INVENTORS x/A/vs M/YDWEHAKAMP By FRANZ SCHAEYER 14 770/?NE Y '1969 H. LANDWEHRKAMP ETAL S FOR VARYING SPINNING CHARACTERISTIC A ROTARY CHAMBER SPINNING MACHINE APPARATU Filed Aug. 16, 1967 1/, Ira/:7 fin/7135711512 4 IVVVV 1' ll IIIIIII Ill\ IIII illlllsl INVENTORS m/vs m/vowmm/vp BY Fm/vz 'f/EEYEE A rmP/YEy United States Patent Sch 39,445 Int. Cl. D01h 7/00 US. Cl. 57-58.89 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The mouth of a withdrawal tube extends concentrically downward or upward into a spinning chamber rotating about an upright axis and can be selectively shifted lengthwise to locate its end higher or lower than the chambers fiber-gathering channel. The character of the finished yarn can be further varied by providing two or more telescoping withdrawal tubes having different characteristics, any one of which tubes can be shifted lengthwise into a yarntwisting position. The yarn-engaging ends of the several tubes may be beaded, ribbed, notched, grooved, smooth, roughened, flared or cylindrical to provide selected yarn surface characteristics. The spinning chamber may have a yam-engaging annular bead adjacent to the withdrawal tube.

Spinning apparatus such as disclosed in copending United States patent application Ser. No. 655,906 of Landwehrkamp and Schreyer filed July 25, 19-67, includes a funnel-shaped rotating spinning chamber having its upper margin tapered inwardly to define a fiber-collection channel. The spun yarn is withdrawn from the chamber through a tube extending through a chamber wall concentric with the chambers axis of rotation so that the tube has an inner end and an outer end.

In such devices it is well known that imparting a false twist to the yarn in the spinning chamber has a significant influence on the yarn formation and on the quality of the yarn. This false twist and the transmission of twist from yarn in the withdrawal tube to fiber in the collection channel of the rotary chamber is influenced by the withdrawal tube characteristics. For example, the use of a stationary or rotating tube as shown in German Patent 489,538, a funnel-shaped tube as in French Patent 1,419,233, or rotary inserts Within the tube as in British Patent 477,259 and German Patent 1,178,336, has been shown to have distinctive effect on the characteristics of the finished yarn. Provision of radial grooves or ribs on the interior tube end to facilitate transmittal of twist to the yarn has been disclosed in German Patent 1,111,549. The surface configuration of the withdrawal tube inner end portion, the pressure of the yarn against the tube inner end and the angle formed by the yarn between the chamber collection channel andthe tube end combine to determine the amount of friction between the yarn and the tube end. The pressure of the yarn against the tube is determined by the speed of rotation of the chamber. All of these factors influence the spinning characteristics of the apparatus and the appearance and quality of the yarn produced. It has been found, for example, that a large amount of friction increases the transmission of twist but the quality of the yarn is reduced because of fiber abrasion and a rough yarn is produced. On the other hand, a smooth yarn is produced if the fiber being spun can roll on the floor of the chamber below the collection channel before it is withdrawn through the tube.

3,481,128 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 A major problem in the spinning industry has been to provide spinning apparatus which can accommodate a variety of flber materials and which can be readily adjusted to the varying spinning conditions required for different materials and required to produce the desired amount and direction of twist and yarn surface characteristics. Consequently, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide spinning apparatus which can be adjusted to the spinning conditions required to produce the desired type and quality of yarn made from various fibers or combinations of fibers.

It is a further object to provide a grooved or ribbed withdrawal tube end which will facilitate the transmission of twist to the yarn while reducing the frictional abrasion on the yarn, regardless of the rotational direction of the spinning chamber.

Another important object is to provide a yarn-Withdrawal tube which can be shifted to extend into the chamber a greater or lesser amount to change the surface characteristics of the finished yarn. A companion object is to vary the yarn surface characteristics by providing a spinning chamber having an annular ridge engageable with the spinning fiber between the collection channel and the withdrawal tube.

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 are axial sections through spinning apparatus according to the present invention showing the withdrawal tube in different adjusted positions, parts being omitted in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an axial section showing a modified spinning chamber and FIGURE 5 is a similar view of a different type of spinning chamber.

FIGURE 6 is an axial section through a spinning chamber having a different type of withdrawal apparatus and FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section through such apparatus with parts in a different adjusted relationship.

FIGURE 8 is an axial section through a spinning apparatus showing still a diflerent type of withdrawal apparatus.

FIGURE 9 is a plan of a withdrawal tube inner end with the spinning chamber in section and FIGURE 10 is a plan of a modified withdrawal tube inner end.

A representative spinning device is shown in FIGURE 1. A housing 1 surrounds a spinning chamber 2 mounted on the upper end of a hollow upright shaft 21. From the upper end of the shaft the cup-shaped chamber flares upwardly and outwardly and has an inwardly and upwardly inclined rim. A cover 11 closes the upper portion of housing 1 and its central portion depends into and forms a stationary'cover for the spinning chamber. A feed tube 51 extends through cover 11 to supply fiber sliver from feed rolls 5 to the spinning chamber 2 and directs such sliver into the collection channel 24 defined by the junction of the lower flared wall and inturned rim of the chamber. A tube 6 extends axially through cover 11 for removing spun yarn from chamber 2. An exhaust tube 4 communicates with the hollow shaft 21 to remove lint and residue from the spinning chamber. The shaft is driven by a sheave 22 turned by belt 23.

The withdrawal tube 6 can be moved longitudinally by a Bowden wire or by an arm 61 projecting from the outer portion of the tube, for example, into various selected positions relative to the collection channel 24.

In the following description the positions of the inner end or mouth 60 of the withdrawal tube 6 relative to the collector channel 24 will be designated as positive or negative. The tube is in the positive position when the entire tube is at one side of channel 24 and the yarn F forms an obtuse angle a between the thread-binding point B in the collection channel and drawing rolls 3, as indicated in FIGURE 5. The tube is in the negative position when its inner ends is on one side of channel 24 and its outer end is on the opposite side of such channel and the yarn stretches at opposite sides of the yarn contact with the inner end 60 of tube 6 forms an acute angle a, as indicated in FIGURE 3.

When the spinning operation is started, mouth 60 of withdrawal tube 6 is moved by a link or Bowden wire attached to arm 61 into the positive position of FIGURE 1. In this position the free end E of a starting thread can be thrown into collection channel 24 by centrifugal force of the spinning chamber 2. If the tube is in the negative position during the starting operation, the starting thread extending into the chamber through tube 6 from drawing rolls 3 must bend sharply upward to reach the collection channel which makes the start diflicult, if not impossible. After the initial throw of the starter thread, the position of the tube 6 can be altered.

It has been shown by experiment that if the tube remains in the position of FIGURE 1 the yarn has a hairy surface which is undesirable for most purposes. If the withdrawal tube is lowered somewhat, the appearance of the yarn is improved and its surface is smoother. An optimum result is obtained when the mouth 60 of tube 6 is in the negative position such as shown in FIGURE 3. In this position, the yarn engages floor 20 of the chamber 2 to a greater or lesser extent, depending upon the extent of the tube 6 beyond the collection channel 24. The yarn rolls on the sloping floor as the chamber rotates, which causes fiber ends to be urged into the body of the yarn and the finished yarn has a smooth surface. If tube 6 is lowered farther the smoothness of the thread increases, but if the tube is lowered too far other difficulties occur and the yarn take-up speed must be reduced.

As stated above, the yarn has a smooth surface when it is rolled along floor 20 of the spinning chamber by locating the tube end in a negative position. However, it the withdrawal tube 6 is in a positive position, so that the yarn forms an obtuse angle a, the drawing r lls 3 can be operated at greater speed than when the tube is in a negative position. Consequently, in order to reduce the negative extent of tube 6 while maintaining the desired yarn characteristics, the spinning chamber can be constructed in various ways, such as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the feed tube and cover, not shown, cooperating with the spinning chamber in a manner essentially as the feed tube 51 and cover 11 of FIGURES 1 and 3 cooperate with spinning chamber 2. In FIGURE 4 the spinning chamber 200 has a shallow floor 201 and an annular bead elevated above the floor on which the portion of the yarn between channel 24 and tube 6 can roll. In this instance, therefore, the withdrawal tube can be in positive position or in a less negative position than might otherwise be necessary.

In the device shown in FIGURE 5, an annular bead 205 projects downwardly into chamber 203 from the upper chamber wall 204. With this type of construction a smooth yarn can be obtained when tube 6 is in a positive position.

With the construction shown in FIGURE 4 or in FIGURE 5, tube 6 could be stationary, but it is preferred that the tube be movable to vary the relative positive position to adapt each chamber to different types of fiber, for example, and to alter the type of yarn surface when desired.

For high withdrawal speed, the twist must be produced as close as possible to the fiber binding point B in the collection channel. Great fricti n at month 60 of tube 6, in general, facilitates formation of false twist and, thus, the binding of the yarn. However, such friction causes the yarn surface to become rough.

It is often desirable to change the characteristics of a yarn, such as its texture or bulk. Previously, the yarn characteristics were determined by the construction of the spinning chamber and the withdrawal tube and c uld be changed only by shutting down the spinning machine and exchanging withdrawal tubes. The present invention, however, makes it possible to vary the characteristics of the yarn readily and automatically. As described above, this can be done by displacing the withdrawal tube axially between various positive and negative positions to influence the transmission of twist to the yarn and the creation of false twist.

In order to provide greater versatility in altering the yarn characteristics without necessitating substitution oi withdrawal tubes, several telescoping withdrawal tubes can be installed in one spinning apparatus and actuating means can be provided to move selectively one or more of such tubes axially to bring the desired tube mouth or months into position to engage yarn being spun and withdrawn. FIGURE 6, for example, shows a spinning chamber 2 in which two withdrawal tubes 600 and 610 are nested in the hollow shaft 21. Each tube 600 and 610 can be moved axially toward and away from collection channel 24. Again, a feed tube and cover, such as elements 51 and 11 shown in FIGURES l and 3, w uld be provided to cooperate with such spinning chamber.

If the inner tube 610 is raised so that its month 611 is even with or higher than the mouth of tube 600, only tube 610 will engage yarn F. If the inner tube 610 is lowered a substantial distance below the mouth of outer tube 600, as shown in FIGURE 7, the inner tube will have no effect because the yarn will merely be pulled axially through it by the drawing rollers. If the two tubes 600 and 610 are disposed so that month 611 of inner tube 610 is only slightly below mouth 601 of tube 600, as shown in FIG- URE 6, the yarn will be engaged by and its characteristics influenced by both tube ends.

By small displacement of the tube months, the radius of the thread entering the tube can be changed, as illustrated in the tube representative positions of FIGURES 6 and 7. By the use of telescoping withdrawal tubes a wide range of infinitely variable spinning conditions can be obtained. Consequently, several telescoping tubes which can be relatively adjusted lengthwise to select one, or to combine two or more to operate on the yarn, without machine shutdown and tube-exchanging, as has been required in conventional spinning machines, provide spinning apparatus which affords economy and greater flexibility in the yarn characteristics which can be produced.

More than two tubes may be provided in nested, telescoping arrangement as shown in FIGURE 8, and the inner end portions or months of such tubes may have different configurations to achieve different effects in the finished yarn. The feed tube and cover, such as shown in FIGURES l and 3, have been omitted in this figure also for clarity. For example, in the hollow shaft 21 of chamber 2, an outer withdrawal tube 620 has an upwardly flaring mouth terminating in an annular bead 605. If this tube is rotated at the same speed as shaft 21, the roughness of yarn F will be affected in the same manner as by the bead in the specially formed chambers shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Greater flexibility is afforded by the use of a movable tube, however, because the height of the tube can be altered, or it can be lowered into the complemental cavity in the chamber floor and thus have no effect on the yarn. An annular groove 621 is provided in the outer wall of tube 620 near its lower end so that the tube can rotate relative to arm 650 and rod 65 which effect axial displacement of this tube.

An intermediate withdrawal tube 600 having a flanged mouth 601 is movable axially relative to shaft 21 and tube 620 by arm '66. This tube may also be rotatably mounted if desired. The inner withdrawal tube 610 has a flared month 611 and is supported by needle bearings within, and is rotatable relative to, tube 600. Tube 610 is rotated by belt 681 through sheave 680 and is axially displaceable by arm 67. Sheave 680 is considerably wider than belt 681 so that the tube and sheave can move axially relative to such belt. If the inner tube 610 is lowered sutficiently its mouth 611 will not engage the yarn F.

It will be appreciated that various combinations of rotatable and stationary tubes, and combinations of tubes having various mouth configurations, may be selected. For example, the rim of month 601 on tube 600 might be broadened to form a fiat flange and the rims of months 605' and 601 on tubes 620 and 600, respectively, may be rounded to a greater or lesser extent or may be angular.

Various relative adjusted positions of the tubes can be selected to change the radius of the yarn in the combined mouth region of the combined withdrawal tube assembly.

Various surface finishes can be provided on the withdrawal tube inner ends to facilitate creation of and affect the degree of false twist in the yarn. For example, the tube inner ends could be sandblasted or otherwise roughened, or a ring of rubber or similar material having a high coefficient of friction can be bonded to the end of a tube. It may be desirable to have different friction surfaces on the ends of the several tubes in the telescoping assembly. To increase the effect produced by tubes 600 and 610, for example, notches or grooves may be provided in the rim of mouth 611 of tube 610, while mouth 601 of tube 600 may be highly polished to provide a very smooth surface. If desired, the mouth 601 of intermediate tube 600, instead of the mouth 611 of tube 610, may have the surface producing the greater friction.

It has been shown by experiment that the yarn at the mouth of the withdrawal tube extends tangentially across the rim because of frictional engagement of the yarn and tube end instead of remaining in its initial radial position assumed at the beginning of the spinning operation. Consequently, it has been found that transmission of twist to the yarn is greatly facilitated by forming grooves 62 in the end of tube 60 having their lengths disposed tangentially of the tube bore 63 as shown in FIGURE 9. Such tangential groove arrangement has proven to be much more effective than a radial groove and rib configuration.

Since the direction of rotation of the spinning chamber may be reversed for some spinning operations, it would normally be necessary to exchange tubes to provide tangential grooves inclined in the direction opposite those of FIGURE 9. To avoid such necessity the tube end 60 may be provided with additional intersecting notches 64 extending in the opposite tangential direction, as shown in FIGURE 10, so that the same tube may be used for either rotational direction of the spinning chamber. Conventional spinning machines could be easily modified to eliminate at least one type of tube exchange simply by forming a notch system such as shown in FIGURE in the stationary tube end.

Although only a single displaceable tube is shown in FIGURES 1 through 5, it is obvious that a telescoping arrangement could be provided in spinning chambers in which the yarn is withdrawn through the chamber cover. Similarly, a single axially displaceable tube could be used in machines in which the yarn is withdrawn through the hollow shaft of the chamber. The withdrawal tube arrangements of the present invention are not limited to use in spinning chambers of the type shown in the drawings, but can be used with the same results in other types of spinning apparatus.

The basic advantage of the present invention is that through the use of axially displaceable yarn withdrawal tubes spinning conditions can be changed to the immediate requirement without interruption of the spinning process. Consequently, the transition from start to normal spinning run, adaptation to different fiber materials and the termination of the spinning operation can be accomplished easily and smoothly. By providing a rotatable withdrawal tube, the maximum discharge speed can be obtained. It will readily be seen that provision of an infinitely variable withdrawal assembly which is adaptable to the momentary spinning requirements is particularly suitable for centralized control of the spinning machine, such as through linkage or Bowden wire actuation of the withdrawal tubes.

We claim:

1. Open end spinning apparatus comprising a spinning chamber rotary about an axis and having a narrow annular inwardly-opening centrifugal fiber-collection channel, and thread-withdrawal tube means having an inner end portion extending into the interior of said spinning chamber, said tube means and said spinning chamber being relatively displaceable lengthwise of said tube means to alter selectively the position of said tube means inner end portion axially of said fiber-collection channel.

2. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the thread-withdrawal tube means include a plurality of nested tubes mounted for telescoping axial relative movement.

3. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 2, in which each of the nested tubes has an inner end portion defining a mouth, the mouth of at least one of the tubes having a different configuration than the mouths of others of the tubes.

4. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 3, in which the nested tubes extend into the spinning chamber concentric with the chambers axis of rotation, and the mouth of one of the nested tubes has an annular bead between the fiber collection channel and the axis of the nested tubes.

5. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 2, in which one of the tube months has a coefficient of friction different from that at another of the tube mouths.

6. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 2, in which the nested tubes are substantially cylindrical and at least one of the tubes has grooves in its inner end having their lengths extending tangentially of the tubes inner wall.

7. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 2, in which the nested tubes are substantially cylindrical and at least one of the tubes has two sets of grooves in its inner end, the lengths of the grooves of each set extending tangentially of the tubes inner wall and corresponding grooves of the two sets extending oppositely from various points of tangency to such tubes inner wall.

8. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the thread-withdrawal tube means includes a cylindrical tube having grooves in its inner end arranged with their lengths inclined relative to radii of'said tube respectively intersecting such grooves.

9. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the thread-withdrawal tube means includes a cylindrical tube having grooves in its inner end arranged with their lengths extending tangentially of the tubes wall.

10. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 1 in which the thread-withdrawal tube means includes a cylindrical tube having two sets of grooves in its inner end, the lengths of the grooves of each set extending tangentially of the tubes inner wall and corresponding grooves of the two sets extending oppositely from various points of tangency to such tubes inner wall.

11. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the thread-withdrawal tube means extends into the spinning chamber concentric with the chambers axis of rotation and is axially movable to locate the inner end of such means selectively at either side of the fiber collection channel.

12. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 1, in which the thread-withdrawal tube means extends into the spinning chamber concentric with the axis of chamber rotation, and the spinning chamber includes an annular bead disposed between the thread-withdrawal tube means and the fiber collection channel.

13. Open end spinning apparatus comprising a spinning chamber and cylindrical tube means including a thread-withdrawal tube having an inner end portion extending into the interior of said spinning chamber having grooves in its inner end arranged with their lengths inclined relative to radii of said tube respectively intersecting such grooves.

14. In open end spinning apparatus, a thread-withdrawal tube of cylindrical cross section and having grooves in one end arranged with their lengths inclined relative to radii of said tube respectively intersecting such grooves.

15. The spinning apparatus defined in claim 13, in which the inner end portion of the thread-withdrawal tube has two sets of grooves, the lengths of the grooves of each set extending tangentially of the tubes inner wall and corresponding grooves of the two sets extending oppositely from various points of tangency to such tubes inner wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor 57-76 Jansen 5776 Verschragen 5776 Bunch 5734 Negishi 5734 Cizek et' al. 5758.89

Juillard 5758.89 Pavek et al. 57-58.89

Negishi 5758.89

JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

